Scientists and engineers are developing a proposed plan of building wind turbines off the coast of the United Kingdom. Since sea water is over 800 times more dense than air, the turbines can be smaller yet still create more energy. Most weather patterns won't affect the productivity of marine turbines because there's a stable, never ending tide twice a day to generate pretty much endless energy. Many of the issues like maintenance and corrosion are already solved because of oil rigs. The turbines are estimated to run at around 12-15 rpms which scientists think should be slow enough for animal life to avoid the blades or get out of the way in time.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/11/tech/innovation/scotland-underwater-turbines/index.html
How well do you think having underwater turbines would work, and how beneficial do you think they would be for the environment and the economy?
What are some problems that might occur if any?
Replies
Good story and it was well written. Again, be sure to hyperlink correctly and reply more frequently. Also, a reminder that you do lose five points for being one day late.
I think this is a cool idea but it might be hard to take care of the water and animal life might become a problem.
This is amazing and will be great for energy, anything that be synthesized but still produce a lot of energy is good. I am concerned though for the animals in the water if they can't move fast enough.
It'd definitely be a project to build, but it could work great. Current and tide are constant unlike the wind, so an underwater turbine continually generates energy. Sure, some fish may get hurt, but with wind turbines, don't you think birds could hit them and damage them? Maybe not to the extent that some large sea life could, but still.
I think it would be something they should definitely try. If it worked it would be very beneficial they wouldn't need as many windmills saving space for farms and houses. Larger animals hitting it and breaking it like sharks and whales.
I think it's a great idea if it can be smaller but still produce more energy. The only issue would be the animal life and maybe the maintenance in the water
It seems like maybe the engineers should be a little more conscious towards the safety of the wildlife than they are.
I believe the underwater turbines could be a wonderfully beneficial idea, as long as they don't go overboard and try to make it all technologically advanced. It's a simple thing they have here, and they need to keep it that way; so no life, environment or the economy is harmed. The problems that could occur is malfunctions of the wind farms, causing money to be spent for repairs, disturbance on marine life, or possibly pollution in the water (killing animal life).
The article also stated that most of the equipment and electronics would be built on land, so most maintenance wouldn't be too hard unless it's part of the actual turbine itself
This is a great invention. To make something smaller yet more efficient is always a good thing. One thing that might occur is if a big fish like a whale would get caught by one.
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